Its hard to think of a more show stopping plant than brugmansia. In summer, this large shrub (which can reach at least 2m x 1m) is covered with huge, trumpet-like flowers in shades of white, pink, orange, red or yellow, that can reach 30cm long. Their shape gives the plant its common name, angels trumpets. The flowers are deliciously scented, especially in the evening – in the wild in tropical south America, they are pollinated by moths.
Brugmansias are tender plants that can be grown indoors all year round, or outside from late spring to autumn. They can be grown as a focal point in a border, but are best grown in pots on the patio – somewhere sheltered, where you can enjoy the evening scent. Plants must be brought indoors for the winter – somewhere that doesnt go below 7–10˚C. They are best grown in a large pot, so you can move them around more easily.
Brugmansias are often confused with datura, which have similar trumpet flowers. However, brugmansia has woody stems and branches and pendulous flowers, while daturas are herbaceous and have upright flowers.
All parts of brugmansias are highly toxic and can cause serious illness or death if ingested. The sap can be a skin irritant. Always wear gloves when handling or pruning brugmansias. Keep them away from children and pets.
Angel trumpet is a stunning flowering plant that produces dramatic, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of white, yellow, pink, orange, or red. While you can find angel trumpet at your local nursery, propagating these beauties yourself is highly rewarding and ensures you have an endless supply of plants.
Propagating angel trumpet is quite straightforward when you follow a few simple steps In this complete guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to successfully propagate angel trumpet plants from cuttings, layering, division, and seeds
Overview of Propagation Methods
There are four main methods for propagating angel trumpet:
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Cuttings – Taking a cutting from an existing plant and rooting it to create a new, genetically identical plant. This is the most common and reliable way to propagate angel trumpet.
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Layering – Pinning a low-growing stem to the ground and allowing it to form roots before severing it from the parent plant.
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Division – Splitting off sections of the plant that have their own root systems to make new plants.
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Seeds – Planting seeds collected from angel trumpet seed pods. More difficult and less successful than other methods.
Cuttings are the recommended method for beginners, as they have the highest success rate. Let’s look at how to propagate angel trumpet using cuttings.
Propagating Angel Trumpet by Cuttings
Taking cuttings from an existing angel trumpet plant is the easiest way to create more of these stunning bloomers. Follow these simple steps:
Choose a Healthy Parent Plant
Select a mature, healthy angel trumpet plant that has robust growth and an abundance of foliage. This will provide the best cuttings.
Use Clean, Sterilized Equipment
Using clean clippers or a sharp knife, take a cutting that is 4-6 inches long. Cut just below a node or joint on the stem. Sterilize your cutting tool before each cut to prevent disease spread.
Prepare the Cutting
Strip off the lower leaves from your cutting so that only the top two leaf nodes remain. This helps direct the cutting’s energy into root growth instead of leaf growth. Dip the stripped end into rooting hormone powder to spur root development.
Plant in Soil
Fill a small pot with well-draining potting mix. Make a hole and insert your cutting so the upper leaves sit just above the soil line. Firm the soil gently around the cutting.
Provide Warmth and Humidity
Place your potted cutting in a warm spot (65-75°F) with high humidity. Covering the pot with a plastic bag helps lock in moisture and humidity. Mist the leaves daily.
Monitor Watering
Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Don’t let it completely dry out. Roots will form in 2-4 weeks, signaled by new growth appearing.
Transition to the Garden
Once rooted, acclimate the young plant to the outdoors for a week before transplanting into the garden after all danger of frost has passed.
Following these straightforward steps, you can propagate endless angel trumpet plants to create a stunning tropical garden display. Now let’s look at propagating angel trumpet through layering.
Propagating Angel Trumpet by Layering
Layering involves encouraging root growth on a still-attached stem that remains connected to the parent plant until the new roots form. Here’s how:
Select a Low-Growing Stem
Find a flexible stem that can be bent down to ground level. Choose one that is still connected to the parent plant.
Wound the Stem
Use a knife to scrape or wound one section of the stem. This section will be beneath the soil. Wounding stimulates rooting hormones.
Secure in Place
Bend the wounded section down and secure it in a shallow trench using landscape staples or a bent wire. Leave the tip exposed.
Add Soil
Cover the pinned portion of the stem with soil, leaving just the tip exposed. Firm the soil over the buried section.
Keep Soil Moist
Water regularly, keeping the soil moist but not saturated. New roots should emerge in 2-3 months.
Sever and Transplant
Once rooted, use pruners to detach the new plant from the parent. Transplant immediately into its permanent location.
Layering angel trumpet creates an identical new plant while allowing the parent plant to continue supplying nutrients. Next we’ll examine propagating angel trumpet by division.
Propagating Angel Trumpet Through Division
Mature angel trumpet plants can be divided to create new plants. Here’s how simple division works:
Select a Large, Overgrown Plant
Division works best on older plants that are overcrowded or have become unsightly. Choose one with a dense clump of growth emerging from the base.
Prepare for Division
Water the plant deeply a day before dividing. Have your freshly sterilized garden tools ready. Choose a shady spot or do this in early morning before heat builds.
Divide the Plant
With a shovel, slice downward through the plant’s root ball, dividing it into smaller sections. Each section should have plenty of roots and some top growth.
Pot Up Sections
Plant each divided section in its own container using potting soil. Water in well until soil is moist but not saturated.
Provide Aftercare
Give divided sections filtered sun for a week while they recover from root disturbance. Then transition to partial sun over a few weeks before moving to full sun exposure.
Dividing overgrown angel trumpet specimens revitalizes the plants while generating new additions to your garden. Finally, let’s examine propagating from seeds.
Propagating Angel Trumpet from Seeds
While angel trumpet can be grown from seeds, this method is more challenging and less successful than the others. Here are some tips:
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Gather Ripe Seeds: Allow angel trumpet pods to fully ripen on the plant until they turn brown. Open the pods carefully and extract the winged seeds inside.
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Start Seeds Indoors: Sow seeds in trays or pots filled with seed starting mix. Cover seeds lightly with 1/4 inch of soil. Keep warm (65-75°F) and evenly moist.
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Expect Low Germination: Angel trumpet seeds have a very low, sporadic germination rate. Don’t be surprised if few seeds sprout. Germination can take many weeks.
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Transplant Seedlings: If seedlings do appear, transplant into individual containers once they have 4-6 true leaves. Grow on for 10-12 weeks before moving outdoors.
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Direct Sow Outdoors: You can try direct sowing angel trumpet seeds into the garden after the last frost. But germination rates are poor outdoors too.
Growing angel trumpet from seeds is an exercise in patience with low success rates. Stick to cuttings, layering and division for the best results.
Troubleshooting Propagation Problems
While propagating angel trumpet is fairly straightforward, you may encounter some issues. Here are solutions to a few common propagation problems:
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Cuttings failing to root: Increase bottom heat to 75-85°F. Mist leaves daily for high humidity. Ensure soil mix drains well and cuttings aren’t sitting in moisture. Apply more rooting hormone.
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Leaves drying out: Raise humidity level around cuttings by covering with plastic or placing on a pebble tray. Water more frequently but avoid saturated soil.
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Stem or base rotting: Allow soil to dry out further between waterings. Use a very well-draining potting mix. Apply fungicide drench if rot is severe.
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Few or no seeds germinating: Unfortunately, low germination is common with angel trumpet seeds. Start more seeds to increase your odds of some sprouting.
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Seedlings dying after transplant: Harden off indoor-started seedlings slowly over 7-14 days before transplanting into the garden. Don’t disturb the root ball during transplant.
Key Tips for Angel Trumpet Propagation Success
Follow these tips to ensure your angel trumpet propagation efforts go smoothly:
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Take cuttings from the healthiest, most robust plants possible.
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Keep humidity high and sunlight filtered while cuttings root.
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Use sterile tools and well-draining soil mixes.
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Allow soil to dry out between waterings to prevent rot.
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Transplant new plants slowly and gently to avoid shock.
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Be extremely patient with seeds as germination is low.
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Stick to cuttings as the most foolproof propagation method.
With the right techniques, you can easily increase your angel trumpet collection. Soon you’ll have plenty of these elegant, tropical specimens bringing drama and fragrance to your gardens.
Where to buy brugmansia online
Watering Brugmansias in pots need watering at least once a day in summer. Reduce watering in autumn and water sparingly in winter, as the plant will not be actively growing. Plants growing in soil will need less watering but do not allow the soil to dry out.
Feeding In spring, feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser once a month, to help promote strong growth. Switch to a high-potassium feed in summer, such as tomato food, to encourage flowers.
Repotting Large plants in pots should be repotted every few years, into a slightly larger pot. This is best done in spring, when the plant is a more manageable size. If the plant is too big to repot, remove as much compost as you can from the pot and replace with fresh.
Pruning You can prune your plant in late summer if it has become overgrown or you dont have room to store it. Cut the stems back to within a few centimetres of old wood, and always cut just above a node. You can use the prunings to propagate new plants. Always wear gloves, as the sap can irritate skin.
Winter care Move your plant indoors in autumn before night temperatures drop below 10˚C. In winter, you can treat a brugmansia either as a house plant, or as a dormant plant.
If you want to keep brugmansia as a house plant, keep it in a conservatory, heated greenhouse or warm, bright room next to a window. Water once a week and it should stay in leaf – and may even flower – in winter.
If you want to store your brugmansia as a dormant plant, put it in a cool, dark place, such as a cellar or shed, that does not go below 7˚C. The plant will lose its leaves and go dormant. In spring, bring it into growth again by bringing it into a warm, bright place and starting to watering it regularly.
How to propagate brugmansia
Take softwood cuttings from brugmansia in spring and autumn, up to 15cm long. Insert the cuttings into free-draining compost and place in a warm spot.
You can also grow brugmansia from seed in spring. This is best done in using a heated propagator.
How to grow Brugmansia from cuttings (Angel Trumpet)
FAQ
Can angel trumpets be rooted in water?
Cuttings can be taken any time the plant is actively growing, and any part of the trunk or branches can be used. Strip off all leaves and buds except the topmost set of small leaves. Put the cuttings in 2-3″ of water in a brightly-lit, warm place, changing the water every day or two and keeping the level consistent.
How do you grow Angel Trumpet from cuttings?
Make your cuts directly above raised nodes on the stem. The first piece will have leaves, while the others may not. Fill containers with moist potting soil and gently push the bottom of each stem into the mix, submerging half its length. Place the pots in a shady place, keeping the soil moist.
Can I grow trumpet vines from a cutting?
Yes, trumpet vines (Campsis radicans) can be successfully propagated from cuttings. It’s a relatively easy method, and they root readily.
Do angel trumpets come back every year?
Yes, angel trumpets (Brugmansia) can come back every year, especially in warmer climates. They are perennials in zones 9-11 and can be overwintered in cooler zones by bringing them indoors.
How do you prune angel trumpet?
Step 1: Choose a healthy, mature Angel Trumpet plant to take cuttings from. Cut a branch that is at least 12 inches long and has no flowers or buds. Use a sharp, clean pair of pruning shears. Step 2: Strip the leaves from the bottom two-thirds of the cutting, leaving only the top leaves intact.
Can You propagate angel trumpet cuttings?
Overall, propagating angel trumpet cuttings is a fun and rewarding way to grow this beautiful plant. With a little patience and care, you can have new Brugmansia plants growing in no time. You may want to see also
How do you plant an angel trumpet?
To plant the angel trumpet cutting, follow these steps: Dip the cut end of the cutting in rooting hormone, covering approximately 1-2 inches of the base. Make a small hole (2-3 inches deep) in the prepared soil using a pencil or your finger.
How does an Angel Trumpet plant grow?
An Angel Trumpet plant initially puts all its growing energy into forming one or more primary trunks with leaves. Once it reaches about 4.5 feet in height, the trunks will develop a fork (a “Y” shape). From there, the plant growth is devoted to flowering. Angel Trumpet has a distinct growing pattern.
When is the best time to propagate angel trumpets?
Angel Trumpets typically grow faster and more robust during warmer months. Therefore, spring and summer tend to be the best seasons to start the propagation process. In addition to its stunning beauty, it is important to note that all parts of the Angel Trumpet plant are highly toxic.
How tall do angel trumpet plants grow?
Angel trumpet plants, also known as Brugmansia, are native to South America and produce eye-catching trumpet-shaped flowers that come in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, orange, pink, and red. These plants can grow up to 30 feet tall, however, they easily adapt to container gardening.